Was there ever a more star-crossed car than the Jensen Healey? The “committee” approach to its creation included several headstrong personalities with different objectives: Kjell Qvale, Donald Healey, his son Geoffrey, and at least two designers. The quest for… more»
• For Sale • 11 Comments
Air Cooled Project: 1974 Porsche 914 2.0
It was the late 1960s. Volkswagen’s Karmann Ghia had had a long and satisfying run but was out of date, and Porsche wanted to replace its entry-level 912. The entwined history of Porsche and Volkswagen goes back a long… more»
• For Sale • 12 Comments
Desert Star: 1980 International Harvester Scout II Project
The International Harvester Scout II came rolling down the road in 1971, to replace the Scout 800. Changes included different grilles and light housings as production extended to 1980, a slightly lower stance, and best of all, the optional… more»
• For Sale • 16 Comments
Parts or Restore? 1954 MG TF Project
As MG limped along in the early 1950s, raiding its parts bins to line-extend its T-series cars, it was hearing complaints that the TD, while comfortable, was slow. The TD meandered from 0 to 60 in over 20 seconds…. more»
• For Sale • 5 Comments
Pure British: 1953 MG TD Roadster RHD
The MG Midget series, established in 1928 with the M-type, needed a successor after WWII. But budgets were tight, so the first post-war Midget was the TC, a pale evolution of the 1939 MG TB. Changes to the XPAG… more»
• For Sale • 21 Comments
Stylish Pixie: 1967 Austin Healey Sprite
The Austin Healey Sprite was first marketed as the beloved Bugeye in 1958. In 1961, the Sprite body was updated and twinned with the MG Midget to give customers an option under each badge. The Austin Healey version was… more»
• For Sale • 18 Comments
Tidy Driver: 1967 MGB Roadster
The MGB was such a hit that over 525,000 were sold worldwide. For a first foray into the vintage car world, an MGB is a prime candidate. Usually, the initial price of the car is reasonable, and parts availability… more»
• For Sale • 32 Comments
Whatsit: 1968 Lola Project
I spent about 45 minutes figuring out that our next car is probably a Lola T70 Mk3 coupe. Here on craigslist, for $100,000, is a project race car listed as a “Lola 908”. The car is located in Santa… more»
• For Sale • 16 Comments
1959 Triumph TR3 With Factory Hard Top
In 1952, Standard Motor Company needed a new sports car to replace the Triumph 2000. A gap in the marketplace had opened up, between MG’s tiny Midget series at the low end, and the Jaguar XK 120 at the… more»
• For Sale • 40 Comments
Italian Stallion: 1972 De Tomaso Pantera
Panteras were built by Italian car maker De Tomaso and imported to the U.S. by Ford in two series: the cars built from 1970 through August 1972, with small chrome bumpers, and the L, for “Lusso” aka luxury, with… more»
• For Sale • 20 Comments
Rare Rambler: 1953 Nash Rambler Custom Project
The Rambler name was first used for a vehicle by the Thomas B. Jeffery Company in about 1900. “Rambler” is actually derived from a bicycle of the same name. The Jeffrey company was purchased by Charles Nash in 1916… more»
• For Sale • 4 Comments
Alien in the Garage: 1971 Invader GT5
Since Day 1 of the automobile, enterprising people have wanted to build their own cars. The first kit car was produced in 1896 by an Englishman, with plans published in a popular science magazine of the day. The Lad’s… more»
• For Sale • 10 Comments
Swedish Beauty: 1969 Saab Sonett V4
In the 1950s, a Saab engineer and racing enthusiast named Rolf Mellde, along with three partners, built a two-seat fiberglass roadster in a barn near Trollhattan, the site of Saab’s factory. They called it Sonett, a contraction of several… more»
• For Sale • 30 Comments
Almost Show Worthy: 1950 Nash Ambassador
Nash started using the Ambassador name in 1927. Back then it was not a stand-alone model, but the top-shelf trim level for a five-passenger sedan. In 1932, the Ambassador badge was finally placed on a car, the Ambassador Eight…. more»
• For Sale • 46 Comments
Formerly Swanky: 1958 Lincoln Continental Convertible
In 1938, Edsel Ford commissioned a one-off luxury car to drive to his vacation home in Florida. This car. based on a Lincoln Zephyr convertible but with European flair, proved wildly popular with Edsel’s wealthy friends. A derivative of… more»
• For Sale • 8 Comments
So Close: 1956 Mercury Montclair Phaeton Project
The Mercury badge was aimed at buyers aspiring to luxury but looking for affordability. As part of Ford’s Lincoln-Mercury division, Mercury offered a dizzying range of options in the 1950s. The Montclair was considered the top of the line,… more»
